I am always excited for the start of a new year. Feels like a fresh beginning, an opportunity to do things better, and a chance to begin all those projects that you have been thinking about forever...but have not yet started.

Every year I have so many "art memories" from my travels, my teaching, my adventures in NYC, and my studio work. While I post these on my blog, I have always wanted to create some sort of physical artist book to hold these memories. I have decided that 2017 will be the year of ARTifacts -- a collaborative project for 2017 documenting adventures in art.

I would love to have you join me if this sounds like a project that intrigues you. This would be a no rules collaboration. Just find or make some sort of artist book, planner, scrapbook, 3-ring-binder, folder, or other container to document your creative experiences, whether they be in art, craft, or anything else. Then get to documenting in any way to style that works for you.

Share your pages on your blog and social media sites using #ARTifacts...and with me. Email your images to shap97@gmail.com at any time throughout the year and I will be creating regular posts to share your creation on The Altered Page. If enough people join in, I will host an online exhibition at the end of the year. If you like, leave a comment saying you plan to join in on the fun.

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I have used the components of my Spellbinders book kit as the basis for my artist book and am excited to begin. I plan to share images of and from my book as I add pages throughout the year.

Watch the video to see the book kit in action and continue in this post to learn more about how my book kit works.

Add to that a package of inserts, complete with pages measuring 6 x 8.5 inches with and without tabs.

Make yours truly customizable with a contour, steel-rule die set that allows you to cut your own pages from paper, craft metal, corrugated cardboard, chip board, felt, fabric, cork, and more. This magnetic set includes dies that allow you to cut both a window in any part of the page and a single page tab.

Tab lovers can get an extra steel-rule die set that enables you to cut three additional tabs.

30 comments:

I love making scrappy journals where I sew paper signatures to the fabric cover. However, I have always said I don't like to write in them. However, you have laid down the gauntlet and I will have to accept. Since I'm a blogger only, you won't find my art anyplace but my blog. However, I will see that you get monthly updates as I take this challenge to heart.

I have been hesitating about joining 'another' project as I've set a new course direction for 2017. But then I realized I have been working with my planner/memory keeper for about six months already. I also have a new art journal started specifically for my new directions. I'm in!

What a cool idea! I have a few things planned for this year that I'd love to document, and I've been wanting to get back to doing more art journal type work this year. I'm going to try and join in for sure!

Totally doing this. I just made a new art journal and just want to fill it with things that inspire me, quotes, friends, art, memories etc. I am so excited to do this with everyone.Thank you so much Seth

Of course I want to join this, and I am very impressed by your spell binder die set. Great concept. It is hard NOT to notice that one of your greatest strengths is coming up with great (and inspiring) creative concepts.